donna12

thanks everyone, I will google lap band plate right now! Missy I knew you'd chime in and I could count on you girl! thx. That's what I'm talking about, I'm not eating that heavy tonight like a chicken breast but it is not uncommon for me to eat a chicken breast for lunch or dinner one or the other and that alone could be 4 oz. No my nutritionist is not thorough, she's young, fresh out of college and never has worked with bariatric patients before. As a matter of fact and I know some of you out there agree to disagree but she and my surgeon say I can have carbonated drinks, well I never was one addicted to cokes or any carbonated drink, thank goodness I always drank water with crystal light, thats my addiction, so I never had to break a bad habit of that when I started my journey, but I've read too much on here to learn about bands slipping or errosion from carbonation so no thank you. My dr is young, he's good but young and I had all the confidence in the world in him and still do and love him to pieces and his practice but the nutritionist, we just differ on things. I stay confused when it comes to food choices! Maybe that's why I can't lose no more than what I've already lost. And in the past 4 days I've gained 4 lbs, now with that said, my ankles are swollen so some may be due to fluid retention but still. This morning I had to be up and out by 8 to take my mom to a medical procedure and she got done at 11 so I didn't eat breakfast, I was starving to say the least. By the time we left there we drove thru Chick-fil-A and I got a kids meal with 6 pc nugget, waffle fry and choc milk, we got home and I ate all nuggets, 1 waffle fry and ate 4 bites of slaw from my mom's meal and didn't drink the milk so that was my breakfast meal at 11:00. Then for afternoon time around 3:30 I was hungry and ate shaved turkey, not much, rolled in 1 1/2 pieces of low fat provolone cheese, small roll ups, about 3 1/2" long. I don't have a scale to weigh food on and need to get one but don't know what kind to buy. I am on a budget and can't afford much so I can't spend a lot on one. I figured for dinner in a bit I'd eat a little cottage cheese. That will be my day.

still having issues, ugh! to the above poster, I do take a multi but forget sometimes to take it. I am increasing my biotin. I did see it yesterday at GNC in dissolveables flavored. I get mine at Walmart.

As I posted a couple of days ago I'm losing my hair, I'm 11 mos post op and take 3000 mcg's of Biotin, usually forget to take my multi, sorry but I do, I'm dificient in Vit D so I take 5000 units of that. My question is this: I've heard taking a pre-natal Vitamin is helpful, would this help with hair loss as well or what all does this vitamin have in it? I've never had kids and never have taken it so I don't know about prenatal Vitamins. Thx Donna

had some today, yum!

thanks for the suggestion. Looks like I will be visiting GNC tomorrow after church, ha. Good luck on your surgery.

oh shoot, why didn't I think of that? lol. Does it change the texture of foods? i.e. cottage cheese or tunafish or chicken salad?

Dear Mark, listen to Missy, please! I am 11 mos post op and I feel you! I am unable to eat chinese fried rice because it gets stuck and I will be the first to admit I miss it terribly, that never leaves me. I miss bread too like crazy but I'm able to eat toast. Tonight for dinner my mom suggested I eat a small tortilla with turkey and cheese inside and think of it like a sandwich so that's what I had and it was GREAT! I heated or steamed the tortilla in the microwave and added the other stuff and never felt deprived. Now back to rice, I can eat at Longhorn and order the Salmon that comes on a bed of rice and eat tiny bites of their rice without getting stuck so it depends on the kind of rice with me. My surgeon says this "I don't want you to feel deprived, eat what ever you ate before only in moderation" with that said I have modified my eating habits to a healthy diet of fish and chicken and veggies, fresh fruits etc but ever so often I will eat a piece of my fav pizza. Tonight I had a cookie for dessert. I also keep Skinny cow brand candy in the house to keep me sane, I don't eat it every day but I will eat it when I crave chocolate and their ice cream is great too. My eating issues with head hunger is awful, I will be the first to admit, I feel your pain, there are times I still mourn food still 11 months out and cry that oh poor me but I chose this path to be healthy and thinner for a reason and yes I'm much older than you, I'm 47 but there are goals in life I wanted to achieve, I want to run a 5K, I want to zip line, I want to fly on an airplane and not take up a seat and half and have a belt extension, just to name a few. I'm down 67 lbs so far and feel like a million bucks already, and would do this a million times over. I am and I stress this to you, seeking help with a therapist right now for my eating issues and why I want to eat the things I want to eat. I just recently posted a post of a confession and believe me it was hard to tell everyone this but I live with my elderly mom but everytime she takes a shower at night I found myself creeping to the pantry and shoving food in, anything. I was closet eating. I finally fessed up to her and now we just sit and talk while taking her shower, kind of like I'm in jail, lol. Yes we are very close, best of friends. She's my biggest cheerleader in all of this. I do think in time it will get better for you, you are grieving foods right now and we all go thru it. Please seek professional help like me and get to the bottom of why we overeat or got us to the point of having the surgery. I wish you luck and give you many cyber hugs. Donna

Finally! After 6 weeks at the same weight, I all of the sudden drop 3 lbs out of nowhere. I'm 4 lbs away from weighing what I weighed in '04 when I had my hysterectomy when I gained a lot of weight afterwards and I'm 26 lbs away from weighing what I weighed in 2000, so I can't wait to weigh 200 then Onederland here I come! I'm so excited.

I agree with the above, but with that said, all surgeons are different including mine. Mine allowed me to be on all liquids for 5 days, then mushies for 5 days then soft foods for a 2 weeks after surgery, of course after being on here for a while prior to surgery and reading I didn't want to mess things up so I followed what everyone else did, all liquids for a couple of weeks then moved to mushies and eased myself into things. Maybe that is why I have had such a problem with stuck episodes early on because I didn't learn how to eat properly, and boy have I had my share. Take it easy on ur band, ur still healing.

First off this is about the hardest thing for me to write and so embarrrassing and I'm so ashamed beyond belief, if you all only knew how I feel inside. I need help. I will be 11 months post op on May 13th and I've lost 65 lbs, yay for me, yes I'm excited about my loss, wish it was more but it is what it is. I'm proud of it. A little about my background, for the last 4 yrs I've gone thru a separation then divorce from my highschool sweetheart of a 25 yr marriage that nearly drove me to suicide, litterally. It broke my heart, still does on some days and after he left me I ate and ate and ate and gained 35 to 40 lbs that made my decision to have surgery because I could hardly walk at 294 lbs and 5'2". Oh God this is so hard to admit. I'm getting there folks. Anyway, I lived on my own for a couple of yrs till it came to the point to where I couldn't afford to make ends meet on alimony alone (haven't worked in 14 yrs and no one will hire me) so I had to move in with my 74 yr old mom, humbly I accepted, me and my little Dachshund moved right in storing all my household furniture and my life as I knew it in a storage unit. Then I had surgery June 13, 2012, all went well except for the first 6 months I was sick with vomiting and nausea due to gallstones and gallbladder, most of you already knew that tho, then on Dec 3rd I had my gallbladder removed, healed from that, now all is good. Here's the confession, here goes. I closet eat as if I'm getting away with something when I do it. When my mom takes her shower at night I go to the pantry and grab whatever, 1 or 2 Cookies, a Fiber one bar, a couple of marshmellows, a skinny cow pack of chocolates candy and dispose of evidence so that she doesn't find out. I'm crying as I type this because I'm so ashamed and now I'm telling you all. The food tastes so good to me and I can't leave it alone and it seems to be sweets that trigger it. I only lose about 2 lbs a month when I see my surgeon each month for a fill but this past time which was last week I went in for a fill and wanted one but he didn't want to give me one, he thought I was in the green zone. Yes I stay full for approx 4 hrs but there are times and I told him this that I feel that I could eat more than a cup worth of food, I choose not to but could. I'm having a hard time getting Protein in or at least 60 to 70 grms of protein in a day, no where near that for me. When I get up in the mornings I want something sweet like honey nut cheerios or oatmeal or fiber one fruit bar. I just feel like I'm failing at this all of the sudden. Thanks for listening Donna

thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart. When I opened up and wrote my story/confession I certainly didn't expect this amount of support or responses, wow. I feel the love! I struggle from day to day especially with sweets. I did see a new Psych today and hopefully she and I can work on things in the future. Thanks for the words of kindness and all the encouragement you have shown. Donna

this may help and may not but I was once stuck on broccoli for 5.5 hrs and someone on here was kind enough to be up at 2:30 a.m. and told me to take a sip of Sprite or carbonated drink and fizz brought whatever was stuck right up, I puked it up. You might want to give it a try. In the meantime, good luck at the dr's tomorrow, keep us posted.

Don't know what to order: I'm craving a steak and haven't had a steak in over a year because I'm scared of getting stuck on it. Their filet sounds good but I like it well done, then their salmon sounds good and of course I will give my salad to my mom, lord knows I can't eat all that, she eats the coconut shrimp, not sure what others will get. I may have to splurge and get a glass of sweet tea and drink one glass before I eat. OMGoodness I want a steak so bad, but I'm chicken, lol.

One other thing, sorry, I plan on getting a couple of filet's at the grocery this week and trying them at home to see how I do since I've been craving steak and haven't had one in over a year. Actually the last FAT JUICY hamburger I had was May 30th 2012, my last supper I called it before I started my pre op diet, oh gosh, I went hog wild that night, birthday cake, ice cream, the burger, appetizer, carbonated drink, I felt like a stuffed pig litterally. So this week, steak it is.

well I decided to go with salmon, it was delish, couldn't eat it all, brought it home will add a little water in the skillet with a little pat of butter and steam it to warm it up. Also substituted veggies cause I didn't want to get stuck on them for a potatoe, again couldn't eat it all, brought it home and drank water and had a wonderful time with my brother who is battling cancer and he felt good today and his wife and her dad joined us and my mom. It was such a blessing to have all of us there as a family together. I did have one bite of their bread with honey butter and thought I'd better stop while I was ahead before I got stuck...lol. oh but that tee tiny bite was good. My mom got appetizer coconut shrimp and sweet potatoe and salad and I had a couple of bites of salad which tasted good to me. It was a good splurge meal. I'm not a mother but I wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day tomorrow. CG you crack me up girl.

thank you all for the input, great advice! I loved the "why on earth would I order sweet tea" and you are right, waste the calories on sugar in the sweet tea so I will get water instead, thank you for the wake up call on that one. Just a Southern girl at heart with my sweet tea I guess, old habits break hard. I think I have made up my mind and am going with salmon and have a few bites of salad and pass that along to my mom. Thanks again everyone.

thanks shelley I just may have to have that steak...mmmmm

wow, the outpouring of friendship on here is overwhelming, I don't know how to process it. I have felt the love all day long from you guys because I finally got the courage up to confess to my mom what had been going on while she showers and she laughed lightly and said "I saw the cookie jar getting empty, I didn't know when you were eating them, here or there or how many but I saw them disappearing". With that said, I was in food jail tonight during her shower, I sat there and we talked about our day and laughed and talked while she showered, please don't think its weird, we are very close, she's my best friend, my rock and has been there for me during my divorce, my lap band surgery and sheesh, held the family together when my daddy passed away 11 yrs ago. She's an inspiration, this weekend is dedicated to her on this Mother's Day and let me extend a Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there. I'm not a mother, never was able to have children. But going back to my eating issues, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders by telling her, whew. Now to see a new shrink on Monday. To Countrygrl, thank you for sharing your story about your sons and I'm happy they have overcome their addiction. I think no matter the source, whether it be food, alcohol, drugs, addiction is addiction and it is hard to overcome. Kudos to them. I myself have never seen or been around drugs so I do not know how hard it must be but I am familiar with alcoholism. I was married for 25 yrs and the watched my ex husband become an alcoholic the last 3 yrs of our marriage due to a high stress job. He still is an alcoholic today. I would love nothing more than to call the show Intervention on A&E and enter him in it, he needs help but then I think of myself with food, I'm no different. But he does need help. Anyhoo off subject, sorry. Keep the faith lady! Be blessed. Donna

Thanks for your input! I do try and watch my caloric intake and save some for sweets but late nights are my enemy! Oh I never forget to eat, I get hungry about every 4 to 4.5 hrs. I see my surgeon on the 29th so maybe he will do a fill, small one at least. Thanks for your words of wisdom. I take all of your comments to heart and thank everyone for your kindness. Thanks again, Donna

Now Terry, just who do you expect I tell every morning since I'm not married and I live with my mom? lol. Just poking fun at you not being sarcastic. I think telling my mom the truth and confessing to her what I've been doing when she showers is the best for me afterall she is my accountability partner and keeps me on track. She will be disappointed in me but will understand and most likely not buy trigger foods for herself that would tempt me. She doesn't have a weight problem, lucky her. I got it all from dad's side of the family, grrr. My dad, when he was alive weighed over 250 lbs and was told that if he didn't lose the weight before heart bypass he'd die so he set off on a strict diet and lost over 100 lbs on his own, God bless him for that cause Lord knows I couldn't do that. When he passed away he weighed 135 lbs. Thank you for weighing in with a male's point of view also. Thanks for the words of encouragement. Donna

Draven, no fear, I'm far from suicidal, now I will tell you this I was in that state of mind when my now ex left me in '09 and we separated, I was in a state of shock to say the least and to find out he was having an affair well that didn't help either. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your heartfelt words. And I thought I was all alone, wow, you've been thru a lot too. I'm very sorry for your loss as well. Please note to everyone that my faith keeps me going, I'm a very strong Christian woman and without God who strengthens me I could not keep going. I have made an appt for Monday with a therapist, I think I may have answered someone Tues but I meant Monday to get to bottom of why I gravitate towards trigger foods and want to snack and closet eat. Thank you again for the cyber hug and words of wisdom and your story which I'm sure was hard to share. Donna

thank you guys for not judging me and for the encouraging words. Elcee I know you say not to have these foods in the house but I cannot deprive my mom of her favs when it is her house. Something I didn't tell you all is my brother is battling colon cancer right now and we are all stressed to the max and right now my mom has lost 30 lbs in the last 4 to 5 mos and hasn't really tried so now I'm worried about her health. Her dr told her to eat at least 1800 cals a day to maintain, well when I see her make a milkshake dang I want one but don't get one, or when she eats chips I'm thinking shoot I sure would like some. She just doesn't have the extra lbs to lose and being 74 she just doesn't need to get any smaller. So now I'm worried about her plus my brother. Guess its emotional eating then huh? I am trying to get in to a therapist that a friend recommended, maybe she can help me deal with my eating issues and why I turn to food. Thanks Sassy, I'll look you up on MFP.

To answer some of the question above, everyone's dr's are different, some have you on all liquid diet and some have you eat with liquid diet like one solid meal, it just all depends. The sole purpose of doing the diet is to shrink your fatty liver so that your surgeon will have an easier time operating in there. I was allowed 3 Protein shakes a day, broth, sf Jello, sf popsicles until I became very weak that I passed out twice due to low blood sugar (no I'm not diabetic but my sugar dropped for some reason) so my surgeon authorized me to eat a Protein Bar on 2 days and a salad 2 days with chicken for protein. Also to answer about fills, some need no fills to feel restriction, it's either Carolinagirl or MIssy on here that has no fill I think it's Missy and she has done awesome, me I have 5.5cc's in my 10cc band and I think I'm in the green zone. I feel restriction, I can go 4 hrs between meals, now if I could just get rid of head hunger, sheesh. Old habits die hard. Night time is my worst enemy. Donna

I took GasX pills not the strips and it did help me, never got the shoulder pain everyone talked about from the gas, thank goodness but the heating pad helps with that and also walking helps get rid of the gas pains too. Stay hydrated, don't gulp, sip sip sip all the time. My go to protein shakes was GNC's brand Lean Shake already mixed up in a bottle Swiss Choc. was my fav, tasted like choc milk and had 25 grams of protein. Loose fitting jammies to lay around in for a few days. Good luck on your new journey, how exciting.

I'm so excited for all of you starting on your new life and your new journey. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I'm almost 11 mos post op and down 66 lbs, def worth it. Hard at times, yes but def worth it. So proud of you guys and excited!!!